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Episode 5 of season 7, “Eastwatch”, was not the most exciting episode by far- and this is after I watched it a second time tonight. Some Game of Thrones episodes advance the plot and are filled with action (like last week’s thrilling “The Spoils of War”). This was what I call a “putting the pieces in place” episode, moving the characters across the map of Westeros, setting up final showdowns that will take place over the next two weeks. It wasn’t thrilling, but it was necessary.

Littlefinger is climbing the ladder of chaos in Winterfell, sowing the seeds of suspicion between Sansa and Arya. A confrontation between Arya and Littlefinger seems inevitable, as the Lord of the Vale seems to be outmaneuvering her, setting up a scene that will force Sansa to defend her letter urging brother Robb to swear loyalty to King Joffrey. Will Bran step in to tell his sisters how their squabbling will end up? I think Sansa is now shrewd enough that she would react to any accusal from her sister by tracing it to Littlefinger. She’ll heed his advice to trust no one and be deeply suspicious. That advice applies, presumably, to him.

Jaime and Cersei also appear to be headed for a face-off, just as they have been for a while. I have predicted that he would inch away from her the madder she got. In this episode, he warns her that she doesn’t stand a chance against the Dothraki hordes and Danaerys’ three dragons. What’s worse, he met with Tyrion, whom Cersei loathes. To whom is the Kingslayer most loyal- the kid brother he always protected who killed his father, or his twin sister, who tells him that she is pregnant (I am very suspicious)? I still think that Jaime will step away from his sister at some point. The cards are stacked against her, and he knows. But what will it take after all this time, after everything she has put him through? Perhaps her further descent into madness is what it will finally take.

Jon Snow, meanwhile, is as resolute as ever, ready to head off on a fool’s mission north of the wall with a ragtag band of misfits (including Baratheon bastard Gendry and his blacksmithing skill) to capture a White Walker which will then be brought back to Queen Cersei to prove to her the severity of the menace to the north. Is it crazy? Yes. Needless to say, not all of those men will be coming back south of the wall. It’s a dangerous mission, and I doubt the sight of an ice zombie corpse will sway Cersei to give up the crown or enter into some sort of power-sharing agreement with Daenerys (remember when she could barely stand to share the Red Keep with Margaery Terrell? She doesn’t deal well with rival blonde beauties). Will this new Tyrion-hatched plan work? What wrench will be thrown in the path of these brave, foolhardy men? Their task won’t be easy, that’s for sure. I for one can’t wait for next week’s penultimate episode of the season.